An alternative method for preventing "Freeze and Thaw" of cold hardy bulbs in cold climates is to get them in the ground, pots or not and wait for the first really cold frosts to freeze them. Then add leaves, bark, rockwool etc. to insulate them and to keep them frozen untill Spring, before removing the covering when danger of hard frost has passed. I find the important thing about late planting is that root development is delayed while frozen. If the bulbs are vey wet and without roots there are usually losses (but if the ground is frozen I expect this would not be such a problem). Peter (UK)